When Shadows Rise (Book 1) - Haley Sulich - Wattpad

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When Shadows Rise (Book 1)

Reads 205,659
Votes 13,932
Parts 42
Time 7h 40m

Wattys winner

Reads 205,659
Votes 13,932
Parts 42
Time 7h 40m

Wattys winner

A magic-addicted spy trapped in the queen's service must track a princess-turned-assassin in order to earn her freedom, but things get complicated when she falls for the princess she's supposed to capture. 

*****

Weak. Cursed. That's how seventeen-year-old Kayden Branimir, the realm's deadliest assassin, views herself. Some believe she could save the world with her rare healing magic, but she gave up on her powers long ago after failing to save her best friend. Her life changes when she receives a letter from her supposedly dead twin brother, Alaric, begging to be rescued from rival territory Leodia. For the first time since her friend's accident, Kayden is determined to be the hero, but she must learn to embrace her magic--and herself--along the way. 

Strange. Unnatural. Those are the words whispered about eighteen-year-old Zara Tait, a Leodian spy addicted to soul-stealing magic. Forced into the queen's service, Zara wants to escape and return home, but she has nothing to offer the queen in exchange for her freedom. When Kayden arrives in Leodia, Zara sees the quiet girl with unique magic as the bargaining chip she needs. But the more she learns of Kayden, the more her feelings grow. Now, Zara must choose between her freedom and the dangerous assassin she hadn't meant to fall for.


[2020 Watty Award Winner]

Content warning:  This story contains mature themes of violence, addiction, abuse, self-harm, and mental illness.

Cover by Faera LaneAll Rights Reserved

Table of contents

42 parts

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SILVER EYES (GXG) by Ava_night_Writer

[2024 WATTYS WINNER] Grace had no idea what she would find on the other side of the wall when the gates opened. Even less so that they wouldn't let her brother cross. Why? A blue-eyed and fierce commander, named Heather, holds the answer. She closed the gates to him. Now, as Grace is drawn to Heather in ways she never expected, she must uncover the truth behind the separation, before her heart leads her astray and the chance to reunite with her brother slips away forever. · · · In a world divided by a wall, once a year, the gates open for a chance to switch sides. Technological side or nature side? That's the question. Grace and her brother, Michael, tired of the nature side, are determined to make the crossing. But at the last moment, a fierce commander named Heather tears them apart. Why? Grace will stop at nothing to get answers. What she didn't expect, though, was to feel drawn to Heather in ways that would turn her life upside down. Now, not only does she have to find her brother and find a way to sneak him over, but she must also navigate her complicated feelings for the woman responsible for their separation. 𝔽𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕕: ⚡Romance reading list - @project_Athena ⚡ ★彡[ᴀᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ:]彡★ ⚡2024 GemStone Book Awards - First Place - Sci-fi Category ⚡ ⚡Zelicaon Awards - Second Place - LGBTQ+ Category ⚡ ⚡Adorn Award Book - Second Place - Romance Category⚡ ⚡The Crown Awards - Third Place - Adventure Category⚡ ⚡Qualified Queerverse activity #FreeTheWriting⚡

Winter's Dance (#1 Ruthen Quartet) by firedance_icesong

(Completed) Two assassins were set to kill a girl. No questions asked. Just kill her and claim their prize. That was their mission. Except one of them was not supposed to visit Volney, the land of the dead and the other fall in love with a girl and totally forget about his mission to kill. For an heir who had dedicated her entire life for her kingdom, fate was not kind. Her sister should have returned home after her visit to her aunt's place. Her kingdom must have been safe, both terrestrial and by sea. But does anything ever goes planned? As a general, she must now decide. Kingdom or family? Suffice to say, slavery was the safest option for a bride. Hated by the king's daughter, she wonders what she had ever done in her life to deserve her hate. With her friend of fifteen years gone to join the rebellion, and without realising what it would cost her, she makes new friends. But would they keep her alive? Or would they sell her for their life? Friendships will be tested. Foes will become allies. Hunted will become the Hunter. And lover will become the betrayer. Not edited! Cover made by @Shadowsleek

Scars of Gold by makexbelieve

When Kacia discovers the forbidden magic running through her veins, she is given a choice - pretend her powers belong to her worst enemy, and use them to help him cement his claim to the throne - or forfeit her life. Can she play along for long enough to plot Ash's downfall, or is their fake truce about to turn into something a lot more complicated? ✨ Throughout fifteen years of Lathrian rule, Kacia has dreamt only of her family and her freedom. After she braves a storm-tossed mountainside in search of reunion with a mother she hasn't seen for a decade, she discovers that she has the power to mimic the magic of others - an ability that sees her sentenced to death by the Lathrian Kingdom which controls her people. That is, until the Lathrian king demands she uses her powers to legitimise his stepson's claim to the throne. If she agrees, she can keep her life - for now. Kacia becomes caught between the volatile brothers she didn't know existed and a prince who is more sympathetic than he seems. The choice she makes, between violent rebellion or slow moving negotiations, might alter the fates of her people - but only if she can decide before the bargain that prolonged her life runs out. Family and freedom may be the things Kacia wanted most, but to gain one she might have to sacrifice the other.

Lily (GL) by MaryflorPantonial

Lilian fleur Queen, Is a half British and half Filipino. Her mom was a former member of an organization of assassins who fell in love with her Dad who she thought was an ordinary guy. But turned out to be an interpole. The org got furious about what her mom did thinking she is the mole on the org on those time and put an order to kill her parents including her. But by discovering how talented Lilian is. Both side the government and the assassins change the plan They started being obsessed on getting the kid instead. But her parents are too smooth to always slipped away from them, for over six years. But then came a young visitor the top of the class assassin who's trained under the government managed to find them but the info leaked to the org of assassins on the other side. And there the situation got shitty.

To Kill a Fae - A Fantasy Romance by jawaters

Sabine has spent the past decade hiding from the Wild Hunt. But when a charismatic stranger recruits her to retrieve an invaluable artifact, she'll have to finally reveal her identity... and her dark secrets. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The darkness holds more than just secrets... Marked for death, Sabine escaped from her home more than ten years ago. But the Wild Hunt will never give up. It should have been easy to stay hidden. All Sabine had to do was keep her head down, avoid telling anyone about her past, and above all else -- not let her glamour drop. Even the best-laid plans eventually fall apart. When a charismatic stranger arrives in the city, Sabine finds herself unwittingly drawn to the power she can sense hidden within him. Keeping her distance is nearly impossible, especially after a life debt is called due and she's tasked into helping steal a rare artifact. Sabine is the only one who can break the magical barriers protecting the item, but that means revealing the truth about her identity and exposing her darkest secrets. Unfortunately, the Fae aren't the only ones hunting her. And the most dangerous monsters aren't always confined to the dark.

A Masquerade of Spiders by EinatSegal

WATTYS 2018 SHORTLIST "Every person is a book, Yael. You just need to find the right way to read them." In a land where a deadly curse forces all to wear masks, Yael steals the mask and identity of a noblewoman to infiltrate the nobility and find her abducted sister, but gets sucked into a twisted game of spies. Eighteen-year-old Yael was a talented mask-maker apprentice-but not anymore. Now, she's a spy, an imposter and a murderess. In the land of Vynam, all must wear masquerade masks to ward off the curse of the spectres, ghost-like beings that kill with a single touch. After the Somaer family, the richest nobles in Vynam, abduct her sister and her parents are put to death, Yael steals the mask and identity of a noblewoman to infiltrate the nobility, find her sister and avenge her parents. Her only chance of success-and survival-is if she can outplay the shrewdest spymasters in Vynam. When her search for her sister unearths dangerous knowledge, she alone holds the power to destroy the precarious peace of the noble houses, and shake all of Vynam to its very core. But the cost might be her sister's life.

The Cradle (Book 1) by amirallyis

It's a mad world and they're too good at hiding it. *** Sierra Montrose didn't like her life. If anything, she wanted it gone. The end. It was a life of self hatred and mistreatment from her own family. A drunkard for a mother and her abusive boyfriend whom Sierra hoped would just drop dead every time she saw him. And often, herself, too. Meeting Lake Breeden changed everything. The girl who had haunted her dreams, the girl who should hate her. And the hidden world she thrust Sierra into. Now hunted and unsafe, Sierra struggled to accept what she should now call home, and understand the mystery that shrouded her existence. Understand she must trust Lake to help her survive this new world of danger and deceit. *** Book 1 in The Cradle series. - TW: mentions of suicide, self harm, bullying, murder, assault. - word count:117,817 - To be reviewed and rewritten, so expect some changes (but don't anticipate it lol I'm nowhere near motivated enough. But it will happen, trust.)

The Tenabrist Chronicles by neonclaire97

"No one could know about my birthright. No one could know about the magic pulsing beneath my skin. That secret held enough power to be the death of me, my father's reputation, and my family's reign. So, I clenched my fists tight and slept until Quarter One, as any dutiful daughter would. For princesses must be, in all circumstances, dutiful." Ainslie lives her life among the servant class, the lowest caste in the kingdom of Aer, serving a sweet but spoiled princess. Alva prepares to rule as Queen when she comes of age in a few years' time, trapped in a gilded cage only made cozy by her beloved lady-in-waiting. Both girls have secrets which will soon shake their kingdom and the entire alliance of Tenabrist to the core. With the help of a handsome knight, a wise librarian, and other allies made along the way, Ainslie and Alva must uncover secrets about their magic, the universe, and their kingdom before it's too late. Updates Sundays at 3pm.

The Wolf Witch by cheeseisjar

Sora has no place in the world. She is meant to be a strong warrior, with the ability to shift into a wolf. She is none of those things, and looked down upon because of it. It brings shame to her, it brings shame to her family, and worst of all, it brings shame upon her prideful and strong brother. There is but one person who truly knows and loves her, but does he really? Magic is not the weapon of a warrior, magic is the weapon of a coward. Sora has been told that all her life, but she has magic within her, recently awakened, and so she has begun to doubt it. Still, witchcraft is punishable by death, and so Sora must be careful with her practices, lest she lose all she has. Sora is a better witch than wolf, though not by much, but she still pursues that craft in spite of the dangers. Her place in the world is a dangerous one, but will it last? The world she lives in is a dangerous one, and such a life as hers rarely ends happily. Disclaimer: this is a short prequel, Sora's story does not conclude with this one. If you finish this book and go "oh, that's the end?" it's because it's not the end. I'm writing a trilogy called Mortance that explores the larger world that this takes place in and concludes Sora's story more thoroughly than in this book. Go read that next if you like my writing, thanks. Please leave any and all criticisms you might have, anything you like and anything you dislike, I want to make this as good as I can. P.S. the cover is literally just a drawing I made in physics class, I know it's bad, I'm not an artist.

of Sword and Flame by busy_busybeee

A person who saves lives, and a person who takes them. What binds them together besides blood? Azura and Vorin are two kingdoms that have been on the brink of war for years. Kyra, Vorin's former First Assassin, knows this better than anyone. So when she discovers a secret that not only threatens the fate of the war, but the world, she does what she must-even if it means diving back into her own dark past. Ren, on the other hand, has no interest in losing all that he's built as Azura's favorite citizen, until he discovers the dark secret Kyra has been harboring. Now, after striking a deal with her to find the culprit behind this mystery, Ren finds he is falling back into his own mysterious past in order to save the future.

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SILVER EYES (GXG) cover

Winter's Dance (#1 Ruthen Quartet) cover

Scars of Gold cover

Lily (GL) cover

To Kill a Fae - A Fantasy Romance cover

A Masquerade of Spiders cover

The Cradle (Book 1) cover

The Tenabrist Chronicles cover

The Wolf Witch cover

of Sword and Flame cover

SILVER EYES (GXG)

[2024 WATTYS WINNER] Grace had no idea what she would find on the other side of the wall when the gates opened. Even less so that they wouldn't let her brother cross. Why? A blue-eyed and fierce commander, named Heather, holds the answer. She closed the gates to him. Now, as Grace is drawn to Heather in ways she never expected, she must uncover the truth behind the separation, before her heart leads her astray and the chance to reunite with her brother slips away forever. · · · In a world divided by a wall, once a year, the gates open for a chance to switch sides. Technological side or nature side? That's the question. Grace and her brother, Michael, tired of the nature side, are determined to make the crossing. But at the last moment, a fierce commander named Heather tears them apart. Why? Grace will stop at nothing to get answers. What she didn't expect, though, was to feel drawn to Heather in ways that would turn her life upside down. Now, not only does she have to find her brother and find a way to sneak him over, but she must also navigate her complicated feelings for the woman responsible for their separation. 𝔽𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕕: ⚡Romance reading list - @project_Athena ⚡ ★彡[ᴀᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ:]彡★ ⚡2024 GemStone Book Awards - First Place - Sci-fi Category ⚡ ⚡Zelicaon Awards - Second Place - LGBTQ+ Category ⚡ ⚡Adorn Award Book - Second Place - Romance Category⚡ ⚡The Crown Awards - Third Place - Adventure Category⚡ ⚡Qualified Queerverse activity #FreeTheWriting⚡